
Circa 1947
THE ITEM
A hewn section of tree, measuring approx. 32 inches in diameter and 29 inches tall, with wooden legs attached.
THE HISTORY
“This chopping block was cut from a tree nearly a century ago. Probably from the Elm Fork Trinity River bottom near the Ritter Lake Community. It was fashioned into a meat chopping block, and used in the grocery store owned by Floyd Watson and Nolan Denison on the first floor of the Masonic Lodge building at 139 West Main Street, in Old Town.
In 1947, the business was sold to Sam Salmon and the block remained in the store until Sam sold in 1970. As Sam employed many high school kids to work in his store, many of the older folks in town claim to have cut meat on this block and cleaned it between uses with coarse salt and a wire brush. After 1970, the block was kept and cherished by Royce Franklin for many years, and was eventually passed on to Gene Lewis, a Lewisville City employee, in the 2000s.” ~ Ben Franklin, 214.808.8698
Donated by Donated by Gene Lewis in May 2019.